Dog Training and me - Dog Trainer Diploma - Dog Training References -
Right Dog - Right Excercises - Right Methods (or: What a leonberger is good for?)

Dog Training

Dog Training, in different forms, is known to everyone who has a dog. It gives the owner such a pleasure when a dog fulfills the simpler command (i.e. sit) even when it goes on the street perfectly disciplined or goes through an exam test!

Dog Training and me

I began dog training with Alex in 1995 since if you go to the street without it, it won't be a walk but rather "water skiing on the pavement"... We went to Cerberos Dog Training School since the age of 8 months of Alex, where positive methods (food, playing) were used to train the dogs gradually. Here (too) I would like to thank Magdolna Nemeth, Head of School, for all her work and professionalism.

Alex over obstacle (1997)

Alex on A obstacle (2004)

You don't only go to a dog training school to teach trick to your dog: it is also a place to meet people like you, having the same interests, sharing the same joys and problems, and create friendships. There builds a sense of belonging to each other, and, in addition, the dogs have a good time, too.

Members of Cerberos Dog Training School

Dog Trainer Diploma

In order to know not only the practical side of dog training, but also the theories behind, at the beginning of 2004 I went to the Dog Trainers Course organised by the German Shepherd Club of Hungary, headed by Dr. Zoltan Bartolak and Gyorgy Kovacs. Topics of the course included:

• Etology (science of dog behaviour)
• Conditioning, learning, reflexes, confirmation methods
• Instincts, instinctive behaviour and its role in dog training
• Anatomy, dog show judging
• Inherited behaviour elements
• Dog training methods
• Learning processes of dogs, trainings
• Areas of sport dog training (tracing, obedience, protection)
• Methods of teaching sport dog exercises
• Elements of "Good Citizen" training
• Regulations of Examinations
• Training Theory
• Proposed health programme for German Shepherd dogs
• Dog training in practice

At the end of the course we had an examination of a total of 90 open questions for 350 points (it took 6 hours to write it). Diploma qualification depended on the result of the test: over 90 % (i.e. 315 points) it's "Excellent" (like "A"), the result of the bests were like "A+". In the group we were 2 who had A+ qualification (I wrote 346 points i.e. 99%).

My Dog Training Diploma

Mr. Biehler's words on the backside of my diploma. It says: "I wish good luck for the work with the dog. F. Biehler"

Dog Training References

Árva, beauceron mix

Damil, german shephard mix

Reno, golden retriever

Othello Löwe Von Blumengarten "Astor", leonberger

Jeromos Löwe Von Blumengarten "Brumi", leonberger

VetCH Kassy Vom Matthiasberg "Carmen", leonberger

Árpádházi Bársonytalpú Leo Balu, leonberger

Artur, mix

Arthur, westie

"Dear Andi! We would like to thank you for your help in dog training and "owner training": without you, we would never have been able to train with love and competence Arva (Orphan), the rescued dog to listen to us and to come back to us even in an unknown area, and today he and Damil are fully reliable members of the family." - Hajnalka F., Diósd

"Hi Andi! Brumi received Excellent, Carmen is Veteran Champion!
Thank you very much for your help in show handling training!" - Emõke I., Budaörs

"Balu would like to thank your for your help (and we too, of course). We hope we can count on you in the future as well!
He does not jump on us anymore, "sit, down and stay" all go well! Leash excercise is not 100% yet but it's only on us now.
Thank you very much again! Kind regards: Balu and his Owners" - Mariann Cs., Pest county

"Arthur the westie had a so independent personality: he would not listen to anybody. We could only walk him on the leash. With Andrea's help, Artur is now paying attention to what we say, and I can't describe what I felt when for the very first time he was free while walking! Thank you so much Andi." - Aranka and Gabriella P., Budapest

Right Dog - Right Excercises - Right Methods
(or: What a leonberger is good for?)

I think important to state that dog training in its classical meaning consists of the Tracking - Obedience - Defense pillars (Sport training) ideal for the structure of defense dogs like german shepherds, rottweilers, giant schnauzers, etc. With many other kind of dogs the methods and exercises simply do not compile with the type of the dog (i.e. there is no use to teach a vizsla or golden retriever for defense work). There is a difference at the endurance of the dogs so even specimen within the same kind are not the same.

When selecting a puppy it is very important to decide why we need the dog for, taking into consideration our own circumstances (owner's nature, neural type, garden or appartment, time schedules, etc.). We find real joy in our partner if (s)he performs well the tasks important for us, and in addition we have a happy dog.

This is why we need to pay attention to the nature of the dogs and the relationship between owner and dog, so in my opinion there are no methods useable for everyone, and you can't simply learn them from books, but instead we need to combine scientific background, practical methods and owner/dog characteristics at dog training.

Nowadays, leonbergers primarily are family and companion dogs, they live well together with other dogs and other animals.

Leonberger with another dog (my beloved caucasian shepherd Alex)	Leonberger with a bird (source: Nato del Amore, thank you Simone)	Leonbergers in the lounge with a cat in the middle (Leoburns Kennel (New Zealand), thank you Elsha)	Leonberger and minihorse (Leoburns Kennel (New Zealand), thank you Elsha)	Leonberger and a rabbit (Photo: Groupe Romand du Leonberg (Switzerland)	Leonberger and a donkey (thank you Carla)	Leonberger and chickens (Photo: Lewenhart kennel (Canada), thank you Naomi)

Despite its size and strength, teaching a leonberger to defense work is not advisable at all. Leonbergers basically are balanced family dogs. Obedience practice (at a basic level) is useful to each dog, to my view, it eases everyday life with the dog and in our modern world it can even save the dog's life (i.e. stop at roads). Tracking can be successful but for this we need an extraordinarily searching dog. Leonbergers are successfully used in search and rescue work.

Mador learning to sit on hand signes

Leonberger in avalanche rescue work (source: The Netherland Leonberger Club www.leonberger.nl) Used with permission.

Leonberger at rescue work with helicopter Aron Van Het Hof Van Eden "Zac" Scuola Italiana Cani Salvataggio www.canisalvataggio.it (Source: www.leovanhethofvaneden.com) Used with permission.

Dog shows are nowadays more and more popular where the optical structure, the "beauty" of the dog is compared to the standard describing the "ideal" specimen of the breed. Training a show dog is widely different from training a sport dog. A whole new speciality is ring dressure, posing, showing teeth and at breeds where it is needed, cosmetics and trimming. When showing a leonberger it is usually enough to bath and brush the dog with the right dog shampoo and conditioner since it is a mountain breed. Teaching ring dressure (like every exercise) can be started at the age of a couple of months so the dog would know what we expect in the ring in the extreme circumstances of the show. Handling is very important, many times the jugde's decision is merely based on how one dog shows him/herself at the moment of judgeing. Well prepared dogs are neutral to the dogs and people around, and they pay full attention to the owner/handler at all times, they move together in harmony.

Leonbergi at dog show
Mador's grandfather, Yankee de la Ferme Toijol,
breeder and owner: Mme Gisele Goffin (B)
(Photo: International Leo Gazette)

Agility is widespread at owners of pure and mixed breeds alike. Spending time together, winning the obstacles together is joyful for the dog and the owner. According to the current Agility regulations there are three size categories (small, medium and large) and training is based on this as well, but there exists "Giant" category (officially not recognized yet) where extremely large dogs can work without risking to overcharge their joints.

Agility with leonberger (Photo: leonbergerunion.com)

There are some areas though where leonbergers can be especially well used. Even at puppyhood leonbergers are very responsive to water (i.e. playing with garden tap at the age of 3 months), and gradually with love we can train them to apport from water. This is a very good basic for water rescue work and later even participation at examinations and competitions. Today in Hungary there is no practice at all for this despite the large number of dogs who are able to do similar activities (apart from leonbergers i.e. newfoundlands or landseers).

Water rescue with leonberger (Photo: Lelionaz kennel, Sweden)

Water test requirements from the Leonberger Club of Great Britain (UK):
http://www.leonbergerstudbook.co.uk/lcgb_working_tests.htm

The benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) are well known abroad and even in Hungary there are initiatives and successes. The force tranquil radiating from the leonberger, the balanced, stable nerves and the playfulness make the leonberger an ideal therapy dog. At some places there are well developed conditions to assess the dog's instincts and to participate at programmes (the most common areas are hospitals, elderly homes, autist or mentally/physically challenged children, etc.).

Leonberger as therapy dog (Photo: Leonberger.com)

Carting is a useful passtime, especially if you have children and a sled too.

Kefira Vom Matthiasberg carting
(Source: Tir na nÓg Leonbergers)

You will be proud of your leos as sleddogs. Especially if such a sweet brave puppy leads your pack...

Leonbergers as sleddogs (Source: Groupe Romand du Leonberg, Switzerland)

Apart from the above, leonbergers can help you to bring your art talent on surface and give you inspiration. The process of creation is calming, and one can be proud of the result.

Made by: Irma van Gog Habilis Leona kennel (The Netherlands).
Model: Skjaergaardens Cool Windsor "Ben", owned by Amy Kippernes Seapride kennel (Norway).
Used with permission from both of them. Thank you Irma and Amy.

© Mador.hu